Cambodia, China sign protocol on phytosanitary for banana exports

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia and China on Thursday signed a protocol of phytosanitary requirements that will make way for the exports of yellow bananas from Cambodia to China.

The protocol was inked here between Cambodian Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Veng Sakhon and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Xiong Bo under the presence of Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong.

Veng Sakhon said bananas will be a new agricultural produce that Cambodia will export to China, following milled rice and dried cassava chips.

"I'd like to express my profound gratitude to the government and people of China for having provided both technical and financial resources to Cambodia for socio-economic development, especially in agriculture," he said.

"The protocol will pave the way for the exports of bananas from Cambodia to China," he said.

Xiong said the protocol was a new achievement in agricultural cooperation and would contribute to boosting trade volume between the two countries.

"The protocol will open the door for the exports of bananas from Cambodia to the Chinese market," he said. "I'm strongly confident that cooperation between China and Cambodia in all fields, especially in agriculture, will be further strengthened and expanded."

Hean Vanhan, director general of the General Directorate of Agriculture of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, said Cambodia has planted about 5,000 hectares of yellow bananas for the exports.

He said those yellow banana trees have been grown in three large plantations in Ratanakiri, Kratie, and Kampot provinces, yielding around 300,000 tons per annum.

"Currently, we export yellow bananas to Vietnam," he told reporters after the signing ceremony. "China will be a new market for our bananas."